The recent record cold weather, especially in the South, will have some lasting impacts on agriculture throughout the new year. On a positive note, a likely benefit includes pest control in places where unseasonably warm weather last year let bugs thrive. On the negative side, many crops, ranging from fruits and vegetables to seedling softwoods that are typically planted in the coming weeks, will be stunted or killed. Meanwhile, poultry producers faced dramatically higher heating costs, particularly those who hatch chicks as they must be kept very warm. One of the biggest and lasting impacts, however, could be on nitrogen fertilizer. Global fertilizer prices were already making a bull run in the fall with China shutting down some productio...

TAGS – China, North America